Signal for grain-bins.



N0.'767,7l3. PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904..

J. G. RAYGOR & G. SLIPE.

SIGNAL FOR GRAIN BINS. APPLIOATION FILED snrw. 17, 1903.

H0 MODEL.

2 SHEETSSHEET- 1.

5 s :IllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlIIIIIlIlIlIIIIIl/IIIIA No. 767,713. PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904.

J, G. RAYGOR & 0. SLIFE.

SIGNAL FOR GRAIN BINS.

I APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17, 1903. K0 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT Q.

W1 TNESSES:

. [NVENTORS g2gzflw/aw WM UNITED STATES Patented August 16, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

SIGNAL FOR GRAIN-EINS- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 767,713, dated August 16, 1904.

Application filed September 17, 1903. Serial No. 173,550. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, J onn G. RAYeoR and CLIFFORD SLIFE, citizens of the United States, residing at Dedham, in the county of Carroll and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Signals for Grain-Bins, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to electric alarms for the grain-bins of elevators, designed to tell when the bins become full.

The object of the invention is to provide a construction whereby signals may be received from any one of a number of bins.

A further object is the provision of an improved signal-box adapted to be operated by the grain in a bin.

l/Vith this and other objects in view the invention is hereinafter described and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional view of the leg and bin of an elevator with our invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the signal-box. Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views thereof, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the switch and indicator.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the leg of an elevator is indicated at 6 containing the usual traveling belt and buckets and discharging therefrom into a delivery spout 7 which is rotatable to deliver the grain into any one of a series of spouts 8, leading to as many different grain-bins 9.

The delivery and distributing spout 7 carries a vertical rod or shaft 10, extending, preferably, from the top to the bottom of the elevator, and in convenient position this rod carries a switch-arm 11, which brushes over contacts on the switch-plate 12, each of these contacts being connected, as by wire 13, to one contact in the signal-box in each bin. The switch-arm 11 is connected by the circuit-wire 14 to battery 15 and bell 16, and the return circuit-wire 17 is connected by its branches to contacts in the several signal-boxes, as more fully hereinafter described. The rod 10 also carries at its lower end an index 18 over a dial 19, containing numbers corresponding to the several bins and also to the several contacts on the switch-plate 12.

When the delivery-spout is turned to a certain bin, the signal-box of that bin is connected, through the switch 11, to the signalbell, and the dial indicates the bin so connected, this dial being preferably positioned on the lower floor of the elevator in view of the operator.

The signal-box is adapted to operate in consequence of the pressure of the grain, when the bin is full, upon a swinging paddle which carries one contact and closes the circuit. Each box consists of a four-sided casing 20, open at top and bottom, containing two movable members 21 and 22, having a sliding contact with each other. The member 21 is substantially horizontal and is pivoted at 21 to the casing. It carries the wire 13, which terminates in a contact 13 on the under side thereof. The other member or paddle 22 swings on its pivot 22 and hangs normally in vertical position. It carries one of the circuit-wires 17, which terminates at the top thereof ina contact-plate 17. and is supported by the member 22, and in normal position the contacts are separated, as shown in Fig. 4. The signal-box is so positioned in the bin that when the bin is full the flowing grain will come against the depending end -of the paddle 22 and swing the same sidewise, as shown in Fig. 5, in which position the contacts 13 and 17 will come together and close the circuit, and thereby sound the bell, when the elevator can be stopped or the delivery-spout turned to a different bin.

It is to be noticed that the contact between the parts 17 and 13 is a sliding contact, so that dust will not prevent the connection. The signal-box and the members therein are preferably made of wood and require no special or expensive parts, being dependent upon gravity for action. As the grain is drawn out of the bin or settles therein the paddle 22 will automatically resume its former position. Only two long circuit-wires are needed, because the switch is conveniently positioned The member 21 rests upon' near to the distributing-spout and the bins. The construction provides a cheap and useful apparatus for the purpose intended, having manifest advantages and utility for grain-elevators wherein the bins are ordinarily at a conslderable distance from the operating or controlllng mechanism.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a movable distributing-spout, and a plurality of bins into each of which the spout may discharge, of a circuitcloser in each bin, a battery and alarm-circuit, and a switch in the circuit, connected to the spout, and movable therewith to connect the circuit to the device in the bin into which the to connect the circuit to the device in the bin into which the spout is discharging.

3. A grain-bin signal comprising an alarmcircuit and battery, a swinging member hanging in the bin, in the way of the flow of grain at a predetermined height, and a circuit-closer actuated by the swing of said member.

4. A grain-bin signal comprising an alarmcircuit and battery, a swinging paddle hanging vertically across the flow of grain at a predetermined height and carrying a contact, and a pivoted member resting horizontally on the upper end of said paddle and carrying another contact, adapted to close the circuit when the paddle swings.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN G. RAYGOR.

CLIFFORD SLIFE.

Witnesses:

AUGUST HAGEN, F. L. BEDoW. 

